Hair drier hood



March 1953 w. H. BUCKNELL ET AL 6 HAIR DRIER HOOD I Filed July 30, 1949 5 SheetsSheet 1 I N V EN TORS l Vm LIAM HAKAA/VBI/CKA/EL L 44 44m M/EssMER BY? .YTZ

A TTORA/EX March 1953 w. H. BUCKNELL ET AL 2,632,960

HAIR DRIER noon Filed July 50, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS A 7 TOk/VEK March 31, 1953 w BUCKNELL E AL 2,632,960

HAIR DRIER HOOD Filed July 30, 1949 3 SheetsSheet 3 INVEN T0 W/L 1. MM f/ARL AN flue/0v L mm 54/; M/ESjME P Patented Mar. 31, 1953 HAIR DRIER HOOD William Harlan Bucknell, Norwalk, Conn., and Emil Miessmer, Yonkers, N. Y., assignors to Eastern Laboratories, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application July 30, 1949, Serial No.-107,68 n

.11 Claims. (CI. 34-99) The present invention relates to apparatus for dryinghair and particularly .toa hood for use with a hair dryer blower; l

It is desirable that a hair dryer-operate to dry the hair as quickly as'possible without causing discomfort to the user; In many hair dryers ofthe' prior art, an electric fan or blower is connected with a discharge conduit in combination; with means for supplying heat. This apparatus discharges arelatively concentrated stream of heated air whichismainly directed upon dif- "ferent portions of the head of the user by manipulating the blower. The application of a con- :centrated blast of hot air in this manneris wasteful and inefficient and requires continual .manipulation by the user.

Devices have been proposed to evenly distribute the flow of air, such as the conventional beauty parlor hair dryer 'which utilizes a. metallic hood placed over the head of the user. This device is not wholly satisfactory for home use because of its cumbersomeness and a so because of a comparatively 'fixed position in which the user must sit while the dryer is used. Still other devices have been provided attempting to overcome this difliculty 'by using a flexible hood of cloth or other similar materials. Obviously, the use of a hood is theoretically satisfactory if the entire output of the dryer is guided to the hair being dried. Furthermore, by the use of a hood there is no entrainment of the surrounding cool air to dilute the However, heretofore, air has been dishood has been tightly attached around the head of the user allowing little or no air to pass between the junction of the hood and the head or beyond the edge of the hood resulting in a failure to dry the hair at these locations.

It has been found that the fastest drying speed Which is comfortable to the user is achieved by starting the. drying operation using a comparatively high temperature while the hair is saturated with moisture, and depending upon the evaporation of the moisture from the hair to achieve a cooling effect, and, as the hair is gradually dried, reducing the temperature of the dryin'g air; Also, as the heating element always increases the temperature of the drying air a proportionate amount, the room temperature :varies mini 5 different localities and during the 2 various seasons a problem is presented in constantly maintaining the desired drying temperature comfortable to the user. a a

The present invention overcomes manyof the difficulties and disadvantages of prior hoods by providing a hair dryerproducing even distribution of air flow over the entire head of the user and beyond the edge of thehood. The air is discharged through an outlet at the front of the hood after it has absorbed moisture from the hair. By varying the rate of discharge of the air its temperature and pressure also is proportionately varied, and no air is wasted by discharging it through grommets or interstices of the hood material before it has performed its drying action.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hood for a hairdryer which is simple and economical in manufacture, eflicient in operation, and durable in use.

A hood with a hair dryer in accordance with the invention is advantageous by reason of its flexible construction as a result of which considerable movement of the user may take place without appreciably affecting the flow of the air to the hair. Another advantage of the construction is that the adjustment of the temperature is made by manipulating the outlet control of the hood at its head end, thus eliminating the necessity of reaching around to the blower to accomplish this purpose. r

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a hood, in accordance with the invention, attached to the outlet of a hair dryer mounted on a wall in front of and above the head of the user. t

Figure 2 is atop perspective view of the hood.

Figure 3 is an end view of the hood showing the means for regulating the temperature of the drying air by varying the size of the outlet for the hood.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 with the hood removed and showing only the basic structure'of the regulating means.

Figure 6 is a vertical section view taken along -the lined-6 of, Figure 5. l

Figure '7. is-an end .view of another embodiment of the invention utilizing as a head engaging member a thin strip of material having a meandering shape providing longitudinal stretching together with a plurality of air outlet spaces.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a hood I, in accordance with the invention, attached to "the outlet-oi a hair dryer blower .2, which may be of the usual type, illustrated as attached to a wall hook and positioned in front of the operator. It is obvious that the blower 2 might be placed in any other convenient position, or that the hood might be applied to the head of the user in the conventionaL manner wherein the blower is positioned behind the user.

The blower 2 is preferably powered by an electric motor and includes an electric heating unit to warm the air exhausted :from its ontlet 4; Although not shown a conventional three-way switch may be used so that the blower may be turned on and off and operated either with or without the heating element.

A blower as illustrated 'is described :and claimed in our co-pending application Serial .No. 107,686, filed July 30, 1949, now Patent No. 2,591,669, -issued-April 8, I952.

The hood I is madeof afiexible material which may -'be easily cleaned to keep it in a sanitary condition and is preferably made of an impervious material such as a thermoplastic. The

hood '-'I is used to conduct-air from the blower to the of the user and may'lhave a shape 'dfanydesired construction althoughiit is preferable that the material is made up to form a tubular member o'fcircular sectional form, grad- 'ually enlarging in diameter from its" blower engaging end 5 to its head engaging endifi.

In "order that the hood I "may be readily attachedand removed from-the blowen'the'blower engaging end *S may 'be-of any suitableconstruction and is shown as fitted with a-spiral spring i-"secured in' position .in the end of the hood by turning the end of the-material over and :stitching or sealing the spring in place inithe. conventional manner. .It is desirable that the material at this *end have a sectional diameter somewhat largerthanthe end of the blower so that the spring may be stretched over the end of the blower and retained in position by a collar :or "shoulder thereon.

"The head engaging end '6 of. thehood I is formed with a slit extending axiallyof thehood :and closed by a zipper or :other suitable :closure means 3. .A-gusset Ill is made to underlie the zipper 9 to provide a better :seal and .to prevent the possibility UfI'the-nipper becoming entangled v in the hair of the user.

A semi-flexible frame I I is inserted in "the "headengagingiend 6 'of :fthe rhood by any suitable construction .such as, by .rstitching, electronic complete "circumference of the head of the user irrespective of the size thereof and 'to facilitate the alignment of the parts-of the'h'oo'd while :it isbeing placediin position.

The frame I I includes a-hood supporting member' -I l "attached to -the head conforming :strip I2 by hinged spacing members I9. The hood supporting member I1 is made of a thin strip of material similar to that used for the head conforming strip I2 and is likewise shaped to provide generally U-shaped bearing surfaces 20 depending from its inner surface and in alignment with the oppositely positioned U-shaped bearing surfaces id. To provide for movement of hood supporting member H with respect to the strip I 2, the member I! is split to form a pair of parts havingoverlapping ends 2 I and 22, the split being located on the hood approximately opposite from the. open end of the frame. The two parts of the member I? are slidably secured together by tubular clamp members 24 and 25, or by other suitable 'meansproviding for the sliding contact ref-one of the ends with respect to the other. The clamp members 24' and 25 are each attached to one of the overlapping ends 2| and 22 by welding or other suitable means so that when the outlet is in the closed position the clamp members 25 and25 abut to act as a stop, while in the open position a stop is provided by :contact of the" clamp .members .24 and .25 with its adjacent bearing member 20. The hinged spacing member I!) may be made of wire bent to a rectangular shape and extending through the U-shaped bearing means I4 and 20 tomovably attach the head conforming strip I2 :to the hood supporting member I1. Accordingly a construction'is'provided whereinthe ends 2| and 22 may bemoved with respect to each other to *slide the two parts of the hood supporting member 11 forwardly orirearwardlyto increase or decrease thespa'oe between theseimembers. As the space between'theimembers 12 and I! .is variable and is the outlet .of theihood, a .means is'thus provided for varying the rate of. discharge of air from the hood, the rtemperatureand pressure of the air in the hood.

In orderto attachzthe hood in position about the head of thexwearer, an elastic-strip .26 vis attached to one lendof :the .strip I2 and .fitted with securing .means:such as a hook 2.1 to engage in an eyelet 29 :on the: opposite .end .:of the. strip 12, the elastic'strip v.26 providin for the necessary. variation depending upon the size of the heads of various users. .In order to provide a slowerrrate of discharge-at ;a1higher temperature an adjustment hi. the hood supporting member I is madeto a position .so.;as :toprovide a mini- :mum spacebetweenit sand the head conforming strip 1-2. by thei use ;of..suitable .means such as snap tfasteners BflandfiI resneetively attached at. each. of theends of. the *hood supporting member I I, the separable :complementary parts being attachedasindicated att32 and-.34 (Figure 4) to the ends of. the head ;confo.rming strip I2, :the snap fasteners '30 'andi3l being engaged to close the outlet to provide .the slow discharge. In attachingithe hoodto the hoodsupportingmem- .ber Ill, pleating of the material of the hoodis done as indicated at 3'5 toiprovide for flexibility "in manipulatin :the hood and adjusting it in position on the head of. the wearer, and primarily to provide 'a larger diameterso that the hood billows away .fromithe head to make space for the hair and to provide proper air distribution and prevent disarrangement of the hair setting.

.Asmay be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the hood is preferably made with its :ends in intersecting "planesso that the hood may be installed "on-1a blower and attached to the head ofxa .user' 13$ illustrated in -Figure -l .so that -the .useriaces pthe ftiefvfi o alternatively, t e hood ma be" put on theheadof theuser in the more conventional position' in whichtheblower is positioned behind theuser. It should be noted that it is "perhaps preferable to position the hood on the f useras illustrated in Figure 1 as in thisposition theu ser more readily is able to; reach the blower tofm'anipulate its starting switch and if neces- *"sary-to adjust itsflposition.

outlet spaces 43 b'etween theconvolutions of the springi The resiliency. of' the spring provides.

means to secure the hood to the-head of the user. An-attachingstrap is secured at one s end 45 to one'end oi. the spring 4| and is apertured at its other end 46 to slip over a hook 4! at the other end ofthespring 41. The spring 4| a-headconformin strip d8 secured to ;its 3 inner side to add to the comfort of the user.

ln l 'igure'l" there is illustrated another emfbodim'en't of the invention in which a hood 5!! is spaced from the head of a user by a meandering strip 5| which is formed with a plurality of restricted opening U-shaped alternatively reversed sections 52 to provide spaces 53 for the air outlet. Although each of the sections 52 are shown of the same size an alternative construction might embody sections of various sizes, for example, tapering down to provide smaller discharge air spaces at its ends. A head conforming strip 54 is made of a narrow thin material having overlapping ends 55 and 56 which are preferably covered with the same material as used for the construction of the hood. Attaching means 51 is an elastic material to releasably secure the ends of the meandering strip 5!. Any conventional quick release means may be used to attach'an end of the elastic material to the meandering strip such as a hook and eye 58.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other constructions may be resorted to without departing from the invention. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered as illustrativev and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A flexible hood for use with a hair dryer blower comprising air conducting means having a passageitherethrough, means at one end of' the passage of the air conducting means to secure it to the outlet of the blower,'means at the other end of the. passage of the air conducting means to secure it to the head of a user, and stiffening means providing outlet forming means positioned at the head end of the air conducting passage spacing the air conducting means from the head of the user to provide an air outlet.

2. A flexible hood for use with a hair dryer blower comprising air conducting means having a passage therethrough, means at one end of the passage of the air conducting means to secure it to the outlet of the blower, means at the other end of the passage of the air conducting means to secure it to the head of a user, resilient means to attach the hood to the head of the user and stiffening means providing outlet forming means positioned at the head end of the air conducting passage spacing the air conducting means from "'perat'ure within the hood 6 the head attaching means 'aridfrom the head of the user to provide an air outlet. 3. A flexible hood for use with a hotair hair dryer blowerjcomprising air conducting means having open ends,v mean's at one'end of the air conducting means to secure it to the outlet of the "blowerfmeans at the" other end of the tubular member to secure it to the head of a user in spaced relationship therewith to provide outlet means, and" adjustable air vent meansfor said last-mentioned" means for regulating the temcontrollable by varying the size'ofitsoutlet. j l i ood 'for use witha hair dryer blower comprising, a generally tubularfshaped "member having o en" en'ds,"meansat one end of the tubular member to secure itto the outlet of the blower, means at the other end of the tubular member to secure'it to the head of a us'er,-stiile'ning means to space the head end of the hood from air, and adjustable'means to vary the width of the space from the hoodto the head of the user to regulate the temperature of'the air suppliedby the blower.

5. A hoodfor use with a hair dryer blower comprising a generally tubular shaped member having open ends, means at one end of the tubular member to secure it to the outlet of the blower, a head conforming base member at the other end of the tubular member, means to vary the opening of the base member, a hood supporting member spaced outwardly from the base member and a plurality of hinged members adjustably spacing the hood supporting member from the base member.

6. A hood for use with a hair dryer blower comprising a generally tubular shaped member having open ends, means at one end of the tubular member to secure it to the outlet of the blower, a thin narrow head conforming base member, a plurality of bearing means extending outwardly from the base member, a hood supporting member at the other end of the tubular member, a plurality of bearing means extending inwardly from the hood supporting member, and a plurality of spacing members having their ends journalled in oppositely positioned bearing means of the supporting and base members to adjustably vary the space therebetween to provide an outlet for the hood of variable size.

7. A hood for use with a hair dryer blower comprising a generally tubular shaped member having open ends, means at one end of the tubular member to secure it to the outlet of the blower, a thin narrow head conforming base member, a plurality of bearing means extending outwardly from the base member, a hood supporting member at the other end of the tubular member, the hood supporting member split into a pair of parts, slidable connection means for the parts, a plurality of bearing means extending inwardly from the hood supporting member, and a plurality of spacing members having their ends journalled in oppositely positioned bearing means of the supporting and base members to adjustably vary the space there-between to provide an outlet for the hood of variable size.

8. A flexible hood for use with a hair dryer blower comprising a generally tubular shaped member having open ends, means at one end of the tubular member to secure it to the outlet of the blower, and a flexible head conforming member at the other end of the'tubular member spec--v ing the tubular member from the head of the sass-2,950

busenttheffflexibleliheaideconformlng :member leavpable of longitudinalstretch and providingstifieningmeans having-a plurality ofinterstices to provide :outlet spaces for the :hood between .the

of the-hoodand the head of :the user.

:59. lAhoodiforluse witha-hair. dryer blower-roomafgenerally tubular shaped :member. havdng open ends, means at one :endofthe tubular .i mem'berto rsecure it to the outletof the blower, wandva'rspi-ral rspringl head monforming member at n-lthe othenend:nhthetubular. member- 'capabletof elongitudi-nalstretehsthespaces between theconvolutions of the spring providing outletspacesior athesho fld between the ends-of .theliood and th -.zheact=oflithe:ruser. slflnAe-hoodfor inse -with arhairidryerblower pcomprisingawigenerally tubularshaped .member lhayingsepen ends means at one lend 10f theltubii'lar-rmember to secure it to the outlet of the t-blower, and :a i-fiexiblehead conformingmember eat the-other end-bf the tubular .:member spacing '-.-;thec-tubular member. from Jtheshead' of the user, z-theriflexibleheadeconforming member capable of longitudinal stretch and: having a .-meandering shape to provide outlet spaces betweenthaend of --ithe"hood-and the head of the user.

' :iThe' followingre'fer'enees are of irecordiin'the 'file of this patent: T

111. A .(ho-odsfor fuse with a vhair dryer .blower lcomprisingargenerally tubular shaped member ,rhaving-open ends meansat one-end 0f the tubular member tosecure it to the outlet of the blower and a flexible head conforming member ispacingthe tubular member from the head. of the user, the flexible head-conforming member ..-formed with a plurality of restricted. opening U- shaped sections alternately reversedand capable of longitudinal stretch and forming (outlet spaces between the sections.

HREF ER NoEs CITED UNITED s'rATE's PATENTS Roberts June 21,1949 

